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Saturday, 15 September 2012

RP No 88 NYW/Jacobite - King James, Tyrconnell & Lauzan

King James II

I've been busy painting up some Jacobite and Williamite command stands for the War in Ireland. I've mainly concentrated on the leaders present in the Old Bridge area of the Battle of the Boyne. Most of the figures are from Essex with a few from Donnington. They're all based up for Beneath the Lilly Banners, using the excellent circular bases from Warbases.

King James II

James II landed in Ireland in March 1689.The Irish
Parliament did not follow the example of the English Parliament; it declared
that James remained King and passed a massive bill of attainder against those
who had rebelled against him. At James's urging, the Irish Parliament passed an
Act for Liberty of Conscience that granted religious freedom to all Roman
Catholics and Protestants in Ireland. James worked to build an army in Ireland,
but was ultimately defeated at the Battle of the Boyne on 1 July 1690 when
William arrived, personally leading an army to defeat James and reassert
English control. James fled to France once more, departing from Kinsale, never
to return to any of his former kingdoms. James died in exile in Saint-Germain in France in September 1701.

Earl of Tyrconnell

After the accession
of James II in 1685, he was created Baron of Talbotstown, Viscount Baltinglass
and Earl of Tyrconnell (2nd creation), and sent as commander in chief of the
forces in Ireland. In this capacity and as Lord Deputy of Ireland (1687–88) he
placed Catholics in positions of control in the state and the militia, which
the Duke of Ormonde had previously organised. Consequently the entire Roman
Catholic population sided with James II in the Glorious Revolution. Thus, in
1689, when James landed at Dublin with his French officers, Tyrconnell had an
Irish army ready to assist him. His role in the Revolution was satirised in the
contemporary folk song,Lillibullero. After James came to Ireland, he created
him Duke of Tyrconnell and Marquess of Tyrconnell, titles recognised only by
the Jacobites. After defeat in the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, Tyrconnell went
to France for aid. He returned to Ireland in 1691, but died of apoplexy just
before the fall of Limerick.

In the late autumn of 1689 Lauzen was put in command of the
expedition fitted out at Brest for service in Ireland, and he sailed in the
following year. Lauzun was honest, a quality not too common in James II's
officials in Ireland, but had no experience of the field, and he blindly
followed Richard Talbot, Earl of Tyrconnel. After the battle of the Boyne they
fled to Limerick, and thence to the west, leaving Patrick Sarsfield to show a
brave front. In September they sailed for France, and on their arrival at
Versailles Lauzun found that his failure had destroyed any prospect of a return
of Louis XIV's favour.

Very nice command units, I like all the little bits of scenery added to them, the signpost in particular made me chuckle especially the guy pointing with the sword and then the other horse rearing up as in reaction.